Not the OP, but I'll wager a guess. Armed explorer:
Good jump range and fast scooping
Plenty of SRV's and fighters to sustain reckless recreational activities during prolonged absence from The Bubble
Self sufficient for module and hull repairs (AFMU and repair limpet controller)
Small cargo rack for holding limpets and picking up any interesting cargo you come across during exit and re-entry to The Bubble (e.g. escape pods)
While the weaponry and shield boosters are superfluous out in the black, they come in handy while operating in the vicinity of The Bubble. This ship could also be used for mat gathering around the bubble and the odd courier missions to break the routine.
Exactly this. I like having weapons and shields on my explorers because when the blackness sets in, you can't help but play laser tag with your wing/squadron mates. We also like to do a lot of canyon jumping in our SRV's.